major element

American  

noun

Geology.

1. any chemical found in great quantity in the rocks of the earth's crust.

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Example Sentences

Paddleboarding just got simpler with the omission of one major element: water.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2024

Tsinghua is a major element of China’s civil-military “fusion” program designed to ensure that all technological developments created in the private sector are available to the military.

From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2023

But several countries have concerns about a multilateral treaty underpinning a major element of the plan, and some analysts say the overhaul is at risk of collapse.

From Reuters • Jul. 15, 2023

A major element was traditional musical styles and instruments from all over the world: an Andean guitar-like charango, a Middle Eastern flute called a ney.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2022

Failing to detect the major element, the dead animal pelt.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick